Massaging apparatus



J. G. MILLER MASSAGINGAPPARATUS Filed Nov. 18, 1940 Feb. 2, 1943.

INVENTOR.

555 Ca/WM5@ ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 2, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MASSAGING APPARATUS Jesse G. Miller, Tiffin, Ohio Application November 18, 1940, Serial No. 366,136

(Cl. 12S-5S) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved massaging apparatus and more particularly -to apparatus especially suitable for massaging the spinal column and adjacent back portions of the human anatomy.

In treating or massaging the spinal column and portions of the human back associated therewith, it is highly desirable that the massaging action takes place progressively in one direction only along the spinal column, preferably from the base of the neck to the sacrum. In addition, the massaging action or pressure applied upon the 'body should be substantially uniform throughout the area treated, and during the period of treatment. The body should also be substantially relaxed during treatment and therefore the maximum benefit is not obtained from a treatment if the patient actively participates in effecting the treatment. Although, heretofore, various types of devices have been provided and used for massaging purposes, such devices have not been particularly well suited for treating the human back and spinal column. The outstanding drawbacks of such prior devices have been their inability to effect a-uniform massaging action upon that partl of the anatomy under treatment, and the use of such devices required that the patient take an active part in the application of the treatment. Such devices as were particularly developed for spinal massaging, attempted to treat the entire back at one time by means of a plurality of massaging elements which contacted localized portions of the anatomy, or employed an oscillating movement of the massaging elements which defeated the purpose of the treatment or proved harmful to the patient.

Byfthe present invention there is provided a new and improved device for massaging the spinal column and adjacent portions of the anatomy which substantially overcomes the aforementioned defects and disadvantageous features of prior devices. The apparatus is adapted to apply a uniform massaging action progressively along the entire length of the spinal column in one direction from the base of the neck to the sacrum; may have the vigor of its action adjusted to suit the constitution of the patient: and operates entirely without supervision or effort on the part of a patient being treated.

These and other objects of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawing wherein there is illustrated a preferred form of the invention, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a new and improved massage table constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a top sectional View taken on line 2--2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view taken on line 3 3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

With reference to the drawing, and to Figure l in particular, wherein there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral I0 broadly indicates a table-like support having a top Il suitably supported on leg members 10a. The top I I through which extends a substantially rectangular'longitudinal opening I2, is preferably of such length as to accommodate a patient in a prostrate position thereon, and the opening I2 is of suflicient width and length to coincide with the spinal area of the average patients back from the base of the neck to the Sacrum. A flexible covering I3 is extended over the opening l2, and serves to prevent the body of a patient from coming in direct Contact with any moving part of the massage unit.

The massage unitis mounted beneath the top of the table in alignment with the opening I2 and includes a frame consisting of longitudinal side members M and cross members I5. The side members Il! are formed with their upper edge surfaces I6 contoured to simulate the curvature of a normal human spine. J ournaled in the longitudinal frame members I4 adjacent the ends thereof, are transversely extending shafts I3, the ends of which are extended beyond the frame members I4 to receive the sprocket wheels le. One of the shafts I8 is further extended and has mounted thereon a pulley wheel 20 which receives a belt 2m. Endless chains 2l connect the sprocket wheels disposed on respective sides of the frame and serve to support and move massaging Vrolls 22' in a predetermined path.

The rolls 22 are mounted on shafts 23 suspended between the endless chains 2|. The rolls are preferably made with wooden cores 24 to which vthere is bonded a tire 25 of a resilient material such as sponge rubber constituting the massaging surface of the roll. On each side of a massaging roll and rotatably mounted on the shafts 23 are rollers 26 so spaced as to contact and ride upon the upper edge surfaces I6 of the longitudinal frame members I4. As the chains 2l are moved by the sprocket wheels I9, the massaging rolls 22 carried thereby are moved in a path dened by the contour of the upper edge surfaces of the side frame members and as they pass over the upper edge surfaces of those members, the path of travel simulates the curvature of the normal human spine. The massage unit is so positioned with respect to the top of the table as to allow the rolls 22 to project through the opening I2 and Contact the anatomy of a person lying on the table I0.

The adjusting mechanism for raising and lowering the massage unit with respect to the top surface of the support I) shown and described herein, has been found to be especially satisfactory in that it may be easily operated by a patient disposed on the top of the table without its being necessary for the patient to leave the apparatus or change his position.

The massage unit is suitably supported on a U-shaped frame 30 by means of blocks 3I eX- tending between the frame and the side members I4 of the massage unit. The open end of the frame 30 is pivotally supported to the leg members Illa by means of bolts 32. The free end of the frame is adapted to rest in its lowermost position upon blocks 32a secured to the side of the supporting table. For raising and lowering the massage unit the end member 33 of the frame 30 is attached to the ends of cables 38 depending from the raising and lowering mechanism. This mechanism comprises spaced cross beams 34 secured to the table I0 and supporting therebetween pulleys 35. A screw shaft 36 is journaled in suitable bearings also carried by the cross beams. Mounted on the screw shaft 36 is a nut 31, to which the ends of cables 38 are attached. Movement of the nut 3l in either direction along the shaft is effected by rotation of the screw shaft 36, by means of handle 39 mounted on the side of the table and operatively associated with the shaft 3G.

The power unit for driving the endless chains 2| includes a reversible motor 4D mounted on a platform 42 supported adjacent one end of the table I0. The motor through a gear reduction unit 4I and pulley 43 is adapted to drive the belt 2 I a which engages the pulley 20.

In using the device the patient is positioned on the supporting surface II, so that his spinal column will be resting on the loose covering over the opening I2 in the top of the table I0. The position of the massage unit is then adjusted so that the periphery of a massaging roll extends through the opening I2 sufficiently to exert the desired massaging effect on the patients back. As the massaging rolls are moved across the opening I2 they follow a path similar to the curvature of a normal human spine, and thereby effect a uniform massaging pressure on the anatomy of the patient disposed on the table. The massaging rolls are caused to travel preferably from the head of the device toward the foot of the device. However, the direction of travel may be reversed if necessary to suit the requirements of the patient being treated. Other adjustments may be made to increase the benets of the apparatus for a particular patient by varying the pressure exerted by the massaging rolls through the use of the raising and lowering mechanism as has already been described, and by varying the speed of the rolls and consequent vigor of the massaging action, which is accomplished by corresponding adjustments in the speed of the electric motor which drives the massage unit.

Having thus described my invention so that those skilled in the art may be able to understand and practice the same, what I desire to obtain by Letters Patent is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a massaging device of the class described a supporting surface having an opening therethrough, a frame member supported below said opening and having spaced upper edge surfaces contoured to simulate the curvature of the spinal portion of the human body, a massaging roll rotatably mounted on a shaft extending between and supported on the edge surfaces of said frame member and having a portion of the periphery thereof adapted to project through the opening in the supporting surface, and means for moving said shaft along the upper edge surfaces of the frame member whereby the periphery of the roll is caused to travel along said opening in a path simulating the contour of a normal human spine.

2. A massaging apparatus comprising a tablelike frame, a body-supporting top thereon with an opening therethrough, a frame having spaced upper supporting surfaces contoured to simulate the spinal portion of the human body mounted for vertical movement beneath said opening, a massaging roll movably supported by said frame surfaces and adapted to have a portion of the periphery thereof projecting through said opening, and means for moving said massaging roll in a predetermined path along the upper surface of said frame and in one direction across said opening.

3. In a massaging device of the class described a supporting surface having an opening therethrough, a frame member supported below said opening and having spaced upper edge surfaces contoured to simulate the curvature of the spinal portion of a human body, massaging rolls rotatably mounted on shafts extending between endless chains and supported on the upper edge surfaces of said frame member, said massaging rolls adapted to have a portion of the peripheral surfaces thereof extending through the opening in the supporting surface, means for moving said massaging rolls along the upper edge surfaces of the frame member whereby said rolls are caused to travel in a predetermined path, and means for varying the speed and direction of travel of said rolls.

4. In a massaging device of the class described a supporting surface having an opening therethrough, a yieldable covering disposed over said opening, a frame member supported below said opening and having spaced upper edge surfaces contoured to simulate the curvature of a normal human spine, a plurality of massaging rolls rotatably mounted on shafts extending between and supported on the edge surfaces of said frame member, a portion of the periphery of each of said massaging rolls adapted to project through the opening in the supporting surface, and means for moving said shafts along the upper edge surfaces of the frame member whereby the periphery of each of the massaging rolls is caused to travel in a path parallel to the upper surface of the frame member, said means serving to move the rolls across the said opening in such a manner that only one roll at a time contacts a body disposed on the supporting surface of the device.

JESSE G. MILLER. 

